Members of the Venezuelan army and the Bolivarian Militia take part in a military exercise in Caracas, Venezuela February 15, 2020. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero
Reuters: Venezuela holds military exercises as Maduro attempts to show force
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela’s military on Saturday held exercises that deployed civilian militia and armored vehicles in the capital Caracas and around the country, an effort by President Nicolas Maduro to show strength as Washington prepares to escalate sanctions.
Maduro accuses the United States of preparing an invasion of the OPEC nation, which in 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump described as a possibility. Since last year the United States has ramped up economic sanctions against his government.
The exercises were launched days after Maduro formally incorporated the civilian reserve, a group of some 4 million volunteers with limited military training, into the armed forces alongside the army, navy, air force and National Guard.
“We have proven the level of command and control of the Bolivarian militia, complemented by the National Bolivarian Armed Forces,” said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino in statements broadcast on state television.
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Update: Denouncing US, Venezuelan troops, militias stage drills (AP)
WNU Editor: Reuters has a photo-gallery of this military/militia exercise. It is sad. In the meantime Venezuela's collapse continues .... 'All we have are walls': crisis leaves Venezuela’s schools crumbling (The Guardian).
